Methods and devices for activating brown adipose tissue with targeted substance delivery

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for activating brown adipose tissue with targeted substance delivery. Generally, the methods and devices can activate BAT to increase thermogenesis, e.g., increase heat production in the patient, which over time can lead to weight loss and/or improved metabolic function. In one embodiment, a chemical configured to stimulate nerves that activate the BAT and/or to stimulate brown adipocytes directly can be delivered to a patient, thereby increasing thermogenesis in the BAT and inducing weight loss and/or improved metabolic function through energy expenditure. The chemical can be delivered to the patient locally and/or systemically to stimulate the nerves and/or the brown adipocytes.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A medical method, comprising:
 transcutaneously applying a device in contact with an exterior skin surface of a patient at a depot of brown adipose tissue and in communication with a receptor in communication with at least a portion of the depot of brown adipose tissue, wherein the device is one of a patch and a pump; and 
 activating the device to deliver a chemical from the device to the patient to activate the brown adipose tissue and increase energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue, wherein the delivered chemical chemically interacts with cellular surface receptors of the brown adipose tissue, and the chemical comprises one of a depolarization agent, a hormone-related chemical, an odiferous agent, a Melanocortin receptor 4 (MCR4) protein agonist, a TRPA1 agonist, and a TRPV1 agonist. 
 
     
     
       2. A medical method comprising:
 transcutaneously applying a device in contact with an exterior skin surface of a patient at a depot of brown adipose tissue and in communication with a receptor in communication with at least a portion of the depot of brown adipose tissue, wherein the device is one of a patch and a pump; 
 activating the device to deliver a first chemical from the device to the patient to activate the brown adipose tissue and increase energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue, wherein the delivered first chemical includes beta adrenergic molecules; and 
 delivering a protease chemical to the patient, the first chemical responding to the protease chemical and binding with G-protein coupled receptors on the brown adipose tissue when the first chemical is exposed to the protease chemical, thereby causing activation of the brown adipose tissue. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising targeting the chemical to a nerve innervating the brown adipose tissue to activate the brown adipose tissue. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the depot of brown adipose tissue is in a supraclavicular region of the patient. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical is continuously delivered to the patient for a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device is activated in response to a trigger event including at least one of the patient eating, the patient resting, a threshold temperature of the patient, a directional orientation of the patient, a change in the patient's weight, a change in the patient's tissue impedance, manual activation by the patient or other human, a blood chemistry change in the patient, and a signal from a controller in electronic communication with the device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising stopping delivery of the chemical;
 waiting a predetermined amount of time; and 
 activating the device to deliver an additional amount of the chemical to the patient to activate the depot of brown adipose tissue and increase energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein transcutaneously applying the device in contact with the exterior skin surface of the patient comprises transcutaneously applying the device at at least one of a supraclavicular region, a nape of a neck, a scapula, a spinal cord, proximal branches of the sympathetic nervous system that terminate in brown adipose tissue depots, a kidney, the brain, and the gut. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising imaging the patient to locate the depot of brown adipose tissue prior to transcutaneously applying the device in contact with the exterior skin surface of the patient at the depot of brown adipose tissue. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising stopping delivery of the chemical; and
 in response to a trigger event, re-activating the device to deliver an additional amount of the chemical to the patient to activate the depot of brown adipose tissue and increase energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue. 
 
     
     
       11. A medical method, comprising:
 transcutaneously applying a device in contact with an exterior skin surface of a patient at least one of a supraclavicular region, a nape of a neck, a scapula, a spinal cord, proximal branches of the sympathetic nervous system that terminate in brown adipose depots, a kidney, the brain, and the gut so as to be at a depot of brown adipose tissue, the device storing a chemical therein, wherein the device is one of a patch and a pump; and 
 activating the device to deliver the chemical to the patient to activate the brown adipose tissue and increase energy expenditure of the brown adipose tissue, wherein the delivered chemical chemically interacts with cellular surface receptors of the brown adipose tissue, and the chemical comprises one of a depolarization agent, a hormone-related chemical, an odiferous agent, a Melanocortin receptor 4 (MCR4) protein agonist, a TRPA1 agonist, and a TRPV1 agonist.